Dig Deeper into AP Computer Science

The AP Computer Science exams are widely accepted by the computer science education community as one of the most reliable measures of high school computer science course-taking patterns. The College Board’s rigorous methodology and data gathering has enabled us to see trends in AP Computer Science A exam-taking over time, by state, by gender, and by ethnic group; as well as the impact of AP Computer Science Principles course, which launched in the 2016-17 school year. This page contains a summary of that data.

This data comes directly from the public spreadsheets available on a per-state basis from the College Board.

AP Computer Science Over Time

Change in ethnic group categories: In 2016, the College Board changed the ethnic group categories that they report. Prior to 2016, we considered the following to be underrepresented minority groups: American Indian, Black, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, and Other Hispanic. After 2016, we considered the following categories: American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander.

In order to download the raw data, click the download icon (a square with an arrow pointing downward) in the bottom right corner of the figure. Be sure to click somewhere on the figure before clicking this icon -- otherwise, the "Data" option will be grayed out. Click "Data", then select the "Full data" tab. Click "Download all rows as text file" to download the data as a CSV.

CS passing rates (score 3+) were lower for female and underrepresented minority students in 2018. Biggest performance gaps seen in underrepresented minority students.

All CS Exams: female student passing rate was 67% (-3% as compared to males). The gap in 2016 was 4%, so there is a slight gap decrease.

All CS Exams: underrepresented minority student passing rate was 48% (-27% as compared to the majorities). Same as 2017.

47 states (including DC) saw an increase in the number of total CS exams taken in 2018 (except ID, ND, SD, UT)

CS A: 12 states saw a decrease in CS A exams

CS P: 4 states saw a decrease in CS P exams

Nationally schools that offered CS increased as compared to 2017:

CS A: +5% (3,413 schools to 3,578 schools). The growth in CS A has been slowing over the last 4 years: +5% growth (2017 to 2018), +6.5% growth (2016 to 2017), +10% growth (2015 to 2016).

CS P: +52% (2,414 schools to 3,660 schools)

Overall: +22% (4,440 schools to 5,400 schools).

Female student participation

Female students comprised a low percent of AP CS exams:

CS A: 24% of exams were taken by female students. This is an increase of 0.5% from 2017.

CS P: 32% of exams were taken by female students. This is an increase of 2% from 2017.

All CS Exams: 28% of all CS exams were taken by female students. This is an increase of 2% from 2017.

Female student passing rate was lower than male students:

CS A: female student passing rate was 65% of exams (lower than male students by -3% passing rate and a mean score difference of -0.12).

CS P: female student passing rate was 68% of exams (lower than male students by -4% passing rate and a mean score difference of -0.09).

All CS Exams: female student passing rate of exams was 67% (lower than male students by -3% passing rate).

Underrepresented minority student participation

For 2018 College Board data, we consider the following ethnic group categories to be underrepresented minorities: American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander. (Other categories reported by the College Board are Asian, White, Two or more races, Other, and No response.) Note that until 2016, the College Board reported demographics using different categories; for those years, the following ethnic group categories are considered to be underrepresented minorities: American Indian, Black, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, and Other Hispanic. (Other ethnic categories reported by the College Board include Asian, White, Other, and Not stated.) The majority is defined as White and Asian students.

CS A: 16% of exams were taken by underrepresented minority students. This is the same percent as 2017. CS A is the 8th lowest rate of participation for any AP exam (calculus, physics and languages have lower rates) and 3rd lowest in AP STEM exams.

CS P: 27% of exams were taken by underrepresented minority students. This is an increase of 1% from 2017. CS P is the 2nd highest rate of underrepresented minority students participation across STEM AP exams (Environmental Science is higher at 28%). Same as 2017.

All CS Exams: 22% of all CS exams were taken by underrepresented minority students. This is an increase of 2% from 2017.

Underrepresented minority student passing rate was lower than the students in the majority:

CS A: underrepresented minority student passing rate was 44% of exams (lower than the students in the majority by -28% and the same as 2017).

CS P: underrepresented minority student passing rate was 50% of exams (-3% less than the percent passing in 2017, and lower than the students in the majority by -29%).

All CS Exams: underrepresented minority student passing rate of exams was 48% (-28% as compared to the students in the majority).

2018 State-level highlights

47 states (including DC) saw an increase in the number of total CS exams taken in 2018 (except ID, ND, SD, UT)

CS A: 39 states saw an increase in CS A exams (up by 10 states from 2017).

Highest percent growth as compared to 2017 were in:

Kansas: +62 exams, from 46 exams in 2017

Montana: +17 exams, from 13 exams in 2017

Alabama: +139 exams, from 271 exams in 2017

Hawaii: +44 exams, from 88 exams in 2017

Lowest percent growth as compared to 2017 were in:

South Dakota down 88% to 2 exams (as compared to 16 exams in 2017)

Mississippi down 53% to 9 exams (as compared to 19 exams in 2017)

Utah down 49% to 120 exams (as compared to 233 exams in 2017)

CS P: 47 states saw an increase in CS P exams. There were 8 states that saw a growth of at least 1000 CS P exams as compared to 2017 (CA, FL, TX, NY, IL, NJ, MI, NC).

Highest percent growth of CS P exams from their state total were in:

Montana: +10 exams, from 0 exams in 2017

New Hampshire: +177 exams, from 38 exams in 2017

Kansas: +26 exams, from 12 exams in 2017

Nebraska: +95 exams, from 47 exams in 2017

All CS Exams: 14 states had increases of at least 50% in overall CS exams.

Highest percent growth as compared to 2017 were in:

Montana +27 exams from 13 exams

Kansas: +88 exams from 58 exams

Mississippi: +86 exams from 105 exams

4 states showed decreases in growth as compared to 2017:

South Dakota: -16 exams (or 46% loss from 35 exams in 2017)

North Dakota: -27 exams (or 28% loss from 96 exams in 2017)

Idaho: -37 exams (or 12% loss from 315 exams in 2017)

Utah: -29 exams (or 7% loss from 405 exams in 2017)

Female participation at the state level

46 states (including DC) saw an increase in the number of total CS exams taken by female students in 2018 (ID, ND, NM, VT, WV showed decreases).

CS A: 34 states saw an increase in CS A exams taken by female students (up by 2 states from 2017). 2 states had 0 female students take CS A exams (SD, MS).

Highest percent growth as compared to 2017 were in:

North Dakota: +4 exams, from 1 exam in 2017

Montana: +5 exams, from 2 exams in 2017

Alaska: +5 exams, from 5 exams in 2017

Kansas: +6 exams, from 6 exams in 2017

Lowest percent growth as compared to 2017 were in:

South Dakota: -3 exams to 0 exams in 2018

Mississippi: -1 exam to 0 exams in 2018

Utah: down 54% to 18 exams, from 39 exams in 2017

CS P: 47 states saw an increase in female students taking CS P exams. MT had 0 female students take the CS P exam (Same as 2017).

Highest percent growth of CS P exams from their state total were in:

South Dakota: +4 exams, from 0 exams in 2017

New Hampshire: +57 exams, from 5 exams in 2017

Nebraska: +18 exams, from 5 exams in 2017

Arizona: +112 exams, from 52 exams in 2017

Lowest percent growth as compared to 2017 were in:

North Dakota: -9 exams, from 10 exams in 2017

Vermont: -12 exams, from 19 exams in 2017

Idaho: -34 exams, from 63 exams in 2017

New Mexico: -5 exams, from 30 exams in 2017

All CS Exams: 19 states had increases of at least 50% in all CS exams taken by female students.

Highest percent growth as compared to 2017 were in:

Montana: +5 exams, from 2 exams in 2017

Mississippi: +41 exams, from 24 exams in 2017

New Hampshire: +69 exams, from 42 exams in 2017

5 states showed decreases as compared to 2017:

North Dakota: -5 exams (or 45% loss from 11 exams in 2017)

Vermont: -9 exams (or 36% loss from 25 exams in 2017)

Idaho: -33 exams (or 36% loss from 92 exams in 2017)

West Virginia: -10 exams (or 11% loss from 88 exams in 2017)

New Mexico: -5 exams (or 10% loss from 49 exams in 2017)

All CS Exams: in 38 states, male students had higher passing rates than female students (that’s 1 fewer state than 2017)

Underrepresented minority (URM) participation at the state level

45 states (including DC) saw an increase in the number of total CS exams taken by URM students in 2018 (ID, ND, ME, MT, WV showed decreases).

CS A: 29 states saw an increase in underrepresented minority students taking CS A exams (up 2 states from 2017) and 8 states at least doubled their participation. 3 states had zero CS A exams taken by URM students (MS, SD, WY).

Highest percent growth as compared to 2017 were in:

North Dakota: +2 exams, from 1 exam in 2017

Alabama: +30 exams, from 24 exams in 2017

Nebraska: +7 exams, from 6 exams in 2017

Lowest percent growth as compared to 2017 were in:

Mississippi: -6 exams to 0 exams in 2018

South Dakota: -1 exam to 0 exams in 2018

Utah: -13 exams, from 24 exams in 2017

CS P: 47 states saw an increase in underrepresented minority students taking CS P exams and 21 states more than doubled their participation. MT had 0 exams taken by URM students.

CS P: 46 states saw increases in schools that offered CS P exams. (3 states remained the same as 2017 and 2 states saw percent change decreases)

Highest percent growth as compared to 2017 were in:

Montana: +5 schools (or 500% increase from 0 schools in 2017)

Kansas: +7 schools (or 233% increase from 3 schools in 2017)

Michigan: +79 schools (or 198% increase from 40 schools in 2017)

Oklahoma: +27 schools (or 193% increase from 14 schools in 2017)

Wyoming: +3 schools (or 133% increase from 2 schools in 2017)

Lowest percent growth as compared to 2017 were in:

Idaho: -3 schools (or 19% decrease from 16 schools in 2017)

Vermont: -1 schools (or 14% decrease from 7 schools in 2017)

3 states that remained the same as 2017 were: SD, DC, ND

CS A and/or CS P: 11 states saw at least a 50% increases in schools that offered any AP CS exam.

Highest percent growth as compared to 2017 were in:

Montana: +4 schools (or 200% increase from 2 schools in 2017)

Oklahoma: +27 schools (or 93% increase from 29 schools in 2017)

Kansas: +11 schools (or 85% increase from 13 schools in 2017)

Michigan: +68 schools (or 80% increase from 85 schools in 2017)

Lowest percent growth as compared to 2017 were in:

South Dakota: -2 schools (or 50% decrease from 4 schools in 2017)

Idaho: -4 schools (or 21% decrease from 19 schools in 2017)

Deep Historical Analysis of State Data by Barb Ericson

Barb Ericson at Georgia Tech has been doing much deeper analyses of these AP Computer Science A Exam data for many years. If you're interested in the really deep dive, check out her AP Data Page.

Downloads

Download the state-by-state data over time powering the map above: In order to download the raw data, click the download icon (a square with an arrow pointing downward) in the bottom right corner of the figure. Be sure to click somewhere on the figure before clicking this icon -- otherwise, the "Data" option will be grayed out. Click "Data", then select the "Full data" tab. Click "Download all rows as text file" to download the data as a CSV.